Developing Talent: How to be a Star at Work®

A development program for high potentials, emerging talent, and leaders of others

Among all of the talented people that surround you, some stand out because they contribute substantially more value than others. They deliver consistently outstanding results in the areas that matter most.  They are recognized by people of influence for their achievements.  And they seem so engaged, so satisfied in their work, and passionate about what they’re doing. 

How do top performers achieve such a high level of productivity?

What sets stars apart from the rest of the pack are the strategies they use to do their own work, to work effectively with others and to lead their colleagues in solving challenging and complex problems—strategies that have been proven to dramatically improve individual and team performance.

At Avid Learner, we’ve built on the groundbreaking productivity research originally conducted for AT&T's Bell Laboratories by Carnegie Mellon University professor Dr. Robert E. Kelley.  Along with Dr. Kelley, our consultants continue to study the high-productivity techniques used by star performing engineers, scientists, technologists and other professionals around the world—and in a variety of organizations—to ensure personal and organizational success.  We draw on these insights to design and deliver unique training experiences that improve personal productivity, accelerate time-to-competence and prepare your top performers to lead successfully.

HOW TO BE A STAR AT WORK® has been extensively-validated.  After participants applied the strategies described in the program, managers reported that their productivity improved at twice the rate of non-participants in less than a year. 

The study results, published in the Harvard Business Review, also showed that—for women and professionals who were not part of the dominant culture—the rate of productivity improvement was an astonishing 400%.

Each course is designed to examine how top performers in your organization and elsewhere do their work.  The program is facilitated by experts who share the best practices of star performing professionals, scientists, engineers, technologists and others.  Participants then create a personal development plan to test new ideas for boosting their personal performance in areas that matter the most.

Core Curriculum

  • Star Performance: What Does It Really Look Like?

  • Leading with Authenticity and Credibility

  • Leadership and Engagement: Developing Exemplary Followers

  • Teamwork: Leading a High-Performing Team

  • Initiative: Blazing Trails in the Organization's White Space

  • Self-Management: Managing Your Time, Energy and Career

  • Broadening Your Perspective: Developing a Global Mindset

  • Networking: Plugging into the Knowledge Network

  • Cross-Organizational Influence: Getting Things Done in a Complex Business Environment

  • Making Influential Presentations: Convincing the Decision Makers

* Note: These courses can also be delivered in a stand-alone version.

What Clients Are Saying

  • “I found the entire program very well structured to help people identify the key areas where improvements are needed. Very useful for individuals who are looking for next level of growth in their careers.”

    - Rakesh S.

  • “Revolutionizes your career mindset! Two thumbs and two toes up!”

    - Bogdan B.

  • “I found this program very useful and valuable. It gives me a different perspective to see how to look for gaps between average and star performers.”

    - Yaling F.

  • “As a 25-year employee and veteran of numerous corporate courses, I anticipated a class of limited usefulness. I was wrong. The concepts covered were illuminating and inspirational. I thoroughly enjoyed the subject matter, breakout sessions, and interactions with the instructor and my classmates.”

    - Anna E.

  • “Excellent class. The engineers get the breadth and contribute better after this class.”

    - Girish A.

  • “I have a lot to learn. This is the best class I have taken.”

    - Jack L.

  • “The Initiative session was very useful. I was finally able to chalk out the initiative and identify clear goals that are measurable.”

    - Anonymous

  • “The classes were very informative and have definitely given me some great insights into how I can improve aspects of my performance.”

    - Andy B.

  • “I appreciate your facilitation of the two sessions in the Star Performer classes (Initiative and Followership). I did not agree with every precept put forth, but you made accommodation for my infrequent but somewhat dissenting opinions, without a driving need to assert that the teacher is always right. I sense a measure of genuine humility and intellectual honesty which has made the two sessions you presented both enjoyable and real.”

    - John A.

  • “This was a great use of my time. I feel much more energized to go out and expand my current role and now feel I have the tools to do so.”

    - Gina T.

  • “I’ve really enjoyed the class and hope to put into practice what I’ve learned.”

    - Richard L.

  • “Thank you once again for teaching me to practice skills and techniques that will elevate all of us.”-

    Reza W.

  • “Thank you for another great class! The concepts are already helping me improve my network and gain more visibility with key people in my organization and beyond.”

    - Avi H.

  • “Yes indeed the information resonated with me….I too agree that much of what you discussed would be particularly interesting to women and people of color, hence my keen interest in what you were sharing. I believe there is a unique dynamic that women of color who are star performers need to be aware of as they navigate their careers and organizations.”

    - Aurora A.

  • “Use of virtual classroom tools was excellent in providing varied instruction approaches and keeping participants engaged.”

    - Anonymous

  • “This has been a wonderful program. I was always having a feeling I am a star. But this training opened up lots of windows for me to improve myself."

    - Ravi K.

  • “It really helped me very much and now I can surely be telling “no one can stop me from reaching my dream."

    - Geeta P.

  • “This is the first virtual course I attended as a group and it's really great. There were interactions between the instructor and participants and also participants to participants where they grouped us and virtually we also met with our own teams to discuss the topics.”

    - Anonymous

  • “One of the best virtual trainings I have ever done, congratulations!”

    - Anonymous

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